We're awfully close to seeing the 2012 NHL lockout become the 2012-13 NHL lockout.

With no labor deal in sight, the National Hockey League on Monday announced they had cancelled another two weeks of regular-season games, erasing the schedule through Dec. 30. The move comes days after what had initially been billed as encouraging labor talks broke down in New York City.

Shortly thereafter, the AHL announced SiriusXM is adding more AHL games to its schedule.

There were 526 NHL games scheduled between Oct. 11, the season's original planned start date, and Dec. 30. Adirondack's parent club, Philadelphia, was scheduled to play 35 of them. The Flyers are currently scheduled to begin the season with a New Year's Eve game in Phoenix, but it is expected the NHL will develop a new, conference-heavy schedule if a new labor agreement is ratified.

The NHL has also cancelled the annual Winter Classic and All-Star Game. The league and players' association could return to the bargaining table this week, the Associated Press reported Monday.

This is bad news for hockey, but good news for the Adirondack Phantoms. It means players like Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn will likely be here through the end of the month. I ran some numbers today and got that either Schenn or Couturier has had at least one point on 35 of Adirondack's 59 goals this season. That's close to 60 percent. Additionally, they're 8-2-1 when Schenn has a point.

Think about that for a minute. They've only won two games when Schenn hasn't had a point.

Their importance to this team is paramount. But you have to think there's only so much developing these guys can do in the AHL. I plan on following up on that at tomorrow's practice.

Until next time,
MC